Process of and apparatus for producing cellulosic briquettes



June 11, 1929. 1 GLAZE ET AL PROCESS'OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCINGCBLLULOSIC BRIQUETTES Filed Jan. 2'7, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l Julie 11,1929.

PROCES S OF AND 45 d i I 41/ an ua-n roxd 67 Jump/w H. L. GLAZE ET AL1,716,490

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING CELLULOSIC BRIQUETTES F iled Jan. 2'7, 1926 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 11, 1929.

UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT L. GLAZE AND GEORGE C. HUMPHREY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, AS-

SIGNORS TO UNITED PRODUCTS COMPANY, INC., OF LOS 'ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A

CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING CELLULOSIC BRIQUETTES.

i i plicatio n filed January 1926- Serial This invention relates to aprocess of and apparatus for producing cellulc sic briquettes, and ismore particularly directed to a proccss and apparatus for producingcellulosic briquettes wherein heat and pressure are ap plied to finelydivided cellulosic materlal to free from the material the organicconstituents thereof to form a bonding material to bond or cement thefinely divided particles 1 together to form a composite bonded briquettewithout the use of bonding materials foreign to the cellulosic material.

This invention is an improvement on the process of producing briquettesfrom cellulosic material as disclosed in copending ap-- plication ofGeorge'C. Humphreys filed Feb. 16, 1924, Serial No. 693,388, and animprove ment over copending application of George C. Humphreys forapparatus for producing cellulosic briquettes, Serial No. 720,384, filedJune 16, 1924.

In the production of briquettes for fuel from finely divided cellulosicmaterial, it is important that a certain range of tempera tures beaintained and that a certain pressure e applied to the finely dividedcellulosic material when in this heated condition.

It is therefore an object of this invention to determine the temperatureranges between which this process will operate satisfactorily and theapproximate pressure required to compress the cellulosic materialsuificiently to expel therefrom the organic constituents which form thebond to bond the cellulosic material together.

It is another object of this invention to pro vide a process forproducing cellulosic briquettes from finely divided material in whichprocess a' portion of the finely divided cellulosic material subjectedto heat and pressure is burned to heat the remaining portion of thecellulosic material to provide the requisite v heat thereto.

1 nother ob ect of this invention is to proatively high pressurerequired for the pro duction of cellulosic briquettes, and which machineis so' constructed and organized as to require a minimum of power.

vide an improved form of feed mechanism for feeding the finely dividedcellulosic material to the machine and for compressing the celluvide amachine applicable to impart the rel-,

Another object of this invention is to prolosic material prior to theheating thereof or the subjecting of the cellulosic material to therelatively great pressure.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, asillustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: 7 v

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a briquetteforming machine embodying thisinvention, illustratingthe feed mechanism and the dies in centralsectional side elevation, and illustrating the pre-compressing mechanismcutaway from the machine.

Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of a fuel compressing machine embodying thisinvention, illustrat-in g the feed pipe and delivery mechanism to thefeed pipe as broken away.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation thereof.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation taken substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig.5 is a plan view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of'Fig. 2,illustrating the precompressing mechanism and showing a valve embodiedtherein in one position to admit air to one side of the cylinder.

Fig. 6 is a fraginental plan View of the valve and piston illustrated inFig. 5, illustrating the valve in theopposite position for admittingpressure to the opposite face of the piston.

Fig. 7 is an end elevation taken substan-' tially on theline 7-7 of Fig.5.

In the production of briquettes from cellulosic material we havediscovered that when. employing a machine as illustrated in thedrawings, the cellulosic material within the dies should be heated tobetween 48f)" Fahrenheit to 550 Fahrenheit while there is being impartedto the cellulosic material i .111 the die of the machine a pressure ofap integrate, but will burn as a briquette, without disintegrating inthe hearth of the furnace or stove in which it is burned to produce amass through which it is impossible or impractical to produce a draft.

We have also discovered that when eniploying a die such as is fullydisclosed and claimed in our copending application Serial No. 84,046,filed January 27, 1926 which has become Patent No. 1,653,269 with theheat required tocarry out this process may be obtained from the-cellulosic material asv the same is forced through the die without theaid of exterior heat, which production of heat from the eellulosicmaterial enables us to carry out our process without the employ ment ofgas or oil, and consequently reduces materially the cost of producingthe briquettes.

- In the preferred embodiment of this invention illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, 1 illustrates a standard upon which the framework2 of the machine is supported.

Supported by the framework 2 in bearin s 3 is a drive shaft 4, to whichdrive shaft a elt pulley 5 is rigidly secured. which belt pulley 5 isdriven from an eccentric motor 6 or other suitablemeans through a belt7. 'A pinion 8 is keyed to the shaft 4 and meshes with a gear 9, which.gear 9 is rigidly secured to a counter-shaft 10 supported in theframework 2., 'Rigidly secured to the countcrshaft 10 is a link 11,which link connects the countershaft 10 to an eccentric pin 12, whicheccentric pin 12 is rotatably supported in a traveling block 13 which isguided in a yoke 14. Secured to the traveling block 13 are rods 15,which rods are guided in bearings 16, and to the outer endof which rods15 plungers or pistons 17 are secured, which plungers 17- pass throughthe feed mechanism 18 and into dies 19, which dies 19 are secured tothrust arms 20 of the frame 2 in any suitable manner, such asillustrated at 21.

Secured to the frame 2 so as to coverthe dies 19 are stoves 22, whichstoves 22 have false bottoms 23 supported by catches 24. The

plungers 17 are, of the same diameters as the interior diameter of thebores of the dies 19. Mounted within the stoves 22 are burners 25, whichburners 25 are connected by means of a valve conduit 26 to any suitablesource of fluid fuel,- such as gas or oil, means being provided at 27for mixing the proper amount of air with the fuel.

Secured to the end of the die 19 is a briquette catcher 28, whichbriqu'ette catcher'is formed of a plurality of inwardly divergingfingers 29 which are secured to the end of the die, as illustrated at30.

Finely divided cellulosic material such as sawdust, shavings, rice hullsor the like, is fed into feeding spouts 31 from a conveyor (not shown)so. that the finely divided material falls freely by gravity into andthrough the lower curved end face 34 of the continuation of the spout31, and which jaw 32 has an upper cutting plate secured thereto toarrest the fall of the cellulosic material into the space between thecomplementary surfaces 33 and 34, and which plate 35 serves the furtherfunction of preventing the finely divided cellulosic material from beingpushed upward into the extension of the feed spout 31 when thereciprocating jaw 32 travels to ward the'surface 34.

The reciprocating jaw 32 is guided within the guideway 36 formed in theframe 2 and is secured to the outer end of the piston rod 37, whichpiston rod 37.is secured at its inner end to the piston 38 and whichpiston rod passes through a stufling box 39. The reciprocating jaw 32 isguided within the guideway 36 formed in the frame 2 and is secured tothe outer end of the piston rod 37, which piston rod 37 issecured at itsinner end to the piston 38, and which piston rod 37 passes through astufling box 39.

The piston 38 is caused to reciprocate by means of hydraulic pressureapplied to the opposite. surfaces thereof, and which admission ofhydraulic pressure to the opposite faces, ofthe piston is controlled byreciproeating valve 40, which valve 40 is secured to the cylinder 41within which the piston 38 which communicate with the ports 45 and 46formed in the walls of the cylinder 41, and through which ports 45 and46 the hydraulic pressure is transmitted to the opposite faces of thepiston 38. A reciprocating plunger 47 is mounted to reciprocate withinthe valve housing of the valve 40 and is secured at its outer ends tothe actuating rod 48, which actuating rod is secured to slides 49-at itsopposite ends, which slides 49 are guided within bearings 50 and to theinner ends of which slides 49 rollers 51 are mounted. Secured. to thecountershaft 10 in the rear of the traveling yoke 14 is a cam 52, whichcam 52 actuates the rods 48 to reciprocate the plungers 47. The valve 40is connected to a source of hydraulic pressure such as a compressed airtanlc of the piston 38.

duit 53 connects with the casing of the valve in communication with theinlet port 60 and the conduit 58 connects with the casing of the valve40 with the exhaust port 61. The ports 43'and 44 communicate withannular ring ports 62 and 63 formed in the casing of the valve 40. Athird ring port 64 is formed in the casing of the valve 40 intermediatethe ring ports 62 and 63. The inner end of the plunger 47 is bored toprovide a channel 65. A plurality of radially opposed ports 66 areformed in the plunger 47 at the outer end thereof in communication withthe channel 65. The plunger 47 is of reduced diameter to provide apassage 67 for establishing communication between the ports 43 and 64 inone position, as illustrated in Fig. 5, and for establishingcommunication between ports 64 and 44 in the opposite position, asillustrated in Fig. 7.

The operation of this valve is as follows:

Referring to Fig. 5, the hydraulic pressure is admitted through the port60 through the channel 65, ports 66. 44. 46, to the outer face Theopposite side of the mner face of the piston 38 is exhausted throughports 45, 43, 62, through the passage 67 and through the ring port 64 tothe exhaust port 61 and is exhausted hrough the conduits 5 8 and 59. Thepiston being in the extreme position illustrated in Fig. 5, the cam 52rotates to drive the piston rod 48. of the left hand valve 40illustrated in. Fig. 2 inward to the position illustrated in Fig. 2, atwhich time the hydraulic pressure admitted through the port (30 passesthrough the ring port. 62, ports 43 and to the inner surface of thepiston 38 and drives the same outward to reciprocate the reciprocatingjaw 32 from the compresstit) ing position illustrated in Fig. 4. The airon the outer surface of the piston 38 is exhausted through ports 46. 44,through the ring port 63, through the passage 67 and through the ringport (34, hcnceout the exhaust port 61.

The cylinder 41 is secured to the framework 2 by means of bolts 68.

The operation of the apparatus is:

The finely divided cellulosic material is dropped into the feed spouts31. The machine being in the position as illustrated Fig. 1, oncontinued rotation of the yoke 14, the reciprocating jaw 32 for the leftside of the mechanism travels forward to the position illustrated inFig. 4, and partially compresses the ccllulosic material into the spacebetween the com plementary surfaces 33 and 34. \Vhen the reciprocatingjaw is in the extreme position illustrated in Fig. 4, and prior to thebackward reciprocation of this jaw 32, the plunger 17 passes between thecomplementary surfaces 33 and 34 and pushes the pressure to compress thecellulosic material as a block into the bore of the die 19, which die,at the start of the operation, is heated by means of the burners 25 inthe stove 22. The plung-' er 17, having completed its stroke, retract-sfrom the bore of the die 19 and from between the complementary surfaces33 and 34, and the reciprocatingjaw 32 is drawn outward from theextension of the feed'spout 31 and finely divided cellulosic materialagain falls into the space between the complementary surfaces 33 and 34,when the prior cycle of operations is again repeated.

As the finely divided cellulosic material is forced into the bore of thedie 19, and as the i with compressed and hcatedcellulosic' material. Anumber of bores 70 are formed in the die 19, establishing communicationbetween the bore of the die 19 and the exterior thereof. On continuedcompression of the cellulosic material in the die 19, portions of theccllu-. losic material gas and steam are forced through the ports 70 andtravel in a stream therefrom into the stove 22. The flame from theburner 25 lights this portion of the cel lulosio. material and when thesame is going freely from the port 70, the fuel supply to the burner 25may be cut off and this portion of ccllulosic material forced throughthe ports 70 will supply the requisite feed for raising the cellulosicmaterial in the die to the proper heat, that is, between thetemperatures of 480 F. and 550 F.

\Vith the bores provided as illustrated in Fig. 1 and with a die ofapproximately thirtysix inches in length, suflicicnt cellulosio materialwill be forced through the ports 70 to maintain a temperature ofapproximately 490 F. c

As the length of the dies 1.9 is increased, the density of thecellulosic briquettes discharged from the ends of the dies 19 isincreased, as a greater resistance is offered to 7 their travel. I havediscovered, however, that with a temperature of 490 and while impartinga pressure of approximately fifty tons to the cellulosic material, thatthe die 19 should be approximately thirty-six inches long, and that withsuch length cellulosic briquettes are formed which are of comparativelygreat density and which have approximatelv a heating value of 900 B. t.11. per pound.

The die 19 should, at all events, be greater than twice-the length ofthe travel of the piston 17 so that sufiicient friction will be impartedto the passage of the cellulosic material through the bore of said die19 to permit the free travel thereof.

Having fully described a preferred embodiment of this invention, it isto be understood that we do not desire to be limited to the exactdetails herein set forth, which may obviously be varied withoutdeparting from the spirit of our invention as set. forth in the appendedclaims.

lVe claim:

1. A'continuous process of forming briquettes from wood chips, shavingsor the like, comprising forcing the material into a die, heated tobetween 350 and 700 F. and subjecting the heated materialto a pressureof substantially fifty tons in the said die and expelling the compressedand. bonded material from the end of the die and a portion of thematerial fed into the die from the sides of the said die, and burningthe material forced from 'the'side of the die to heat the said die. v

.2. A continuous process of forming briquettes from finely dividedcellulosic material, comprising forcing the material into a die, heatedto approximately 450 F., forcing the major portion of the material fromthe end of the said die and a portion of the material from bores formedin the said die,

and burning t-heimaterial forced from the said bores into the die toheatthe die.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a frame, acounter-shaft mounted in bearings on the frame, an eccentric pin, a linkconnecting the shaft and the pin, a traveling block, rods connected tothe said block, thrust-arms secured to the frame,

dies supported b the-said thrust-arms, pistons secured to t re said rodsand adapted to be reciprocated by the said blocks, a feed spout, areciprocating jaw mounted in the feed spout for precompressing thematerial fed therethrough, a fluid actuated motor op- 'the combinationof a frame, a shaft mounted erating the said jaw, a conduit supplyingfluid under pressure'to-the said motor, a fluid valvemounted in the saidconduit, and means connected with said counter-shaft for actuating thesaid valve.

r 4. In anapparatus of the class described, the combination of a shaft,means for driving the shaft, a traveling block secured to and actuated.by the said shaft, connecting rods secured to the said traveling block,pistons secured to the said rods, feed spouts, precompressingreciprocating jaws mount-ed in the said feed spouts for precompressingthe material fed through the said spouts in the path of the saidpistons, dies mounted in position to receive the precompressed ma.-terial from the said dies, fluid actuated motors for reciprocating thesaid jaws, conduits supplying fluid under pressure to the said motors,valves mounted in the said conand bonded material from the end of thedieand a portion of-the material fed into the die from the side of thedie, and burning the material forced from the side of the die to heatthe die.

6. A continuous process of forming briquettes from wood chips, shavingsor the like including forcing the'material into a die heated toapproximately 450 F., forcing the major portion of the material from theend of the die and the other portion of the material through boresformed in the die, burning the material forced through the bores to heatthe die, and yieldably holding the briquettes from free expulsion from athe die.

.blockfrom the counter-shaft, dies supported by the frame, a' pair ofpistons, means secured to'thepistons and to the traveling block orreciprocating the pistons in the.

dies, a feed spout, a reciprocating jaw mounted in the feed spout forprecompresstuated means for operating the precompressing jaw, and meansconnected with the counter shaft for actuating the fluid pressure means.1

8. In an apparatus of the class described,

on the frame, means for driving the shaft, a traveling block securedtoand actuated by the shaft, dies supported by the frame, a piston foreach of the said dies, means connecting each of. the dies with thetraveling block, a feed spout for each of the dies, recompressingreciprocating jaws mounted in the feed'spouts for recompressing materialing the material fed therethrough, fluid ac:

fed through the spouts in the path of the pistons, fluid actuating meansfor actuating the jaws, and means 'operably connecting the shaft withthe fluid actuating means for controlling the. actuation of the same intimed relation with the actuation of the pistons.

Signed at Los Angeles, Calif, this 19th day of January, 1926.

HERBERT L. GLAZE.

GEORGE o. HUMPHREY-.'

